Be a better you

Super-food Sunday: Garlic

Garlic is commonly associated with bad breath and for being bad to eat when in a romantic situation (or any other situation where you are in close proximity to others) for that exact reason. This is down to the presence of Allicin, which is responsible for the notorious odor.

However, garlic has amazing health benefits, and this is also down to the presence of Allicin.. you just have to use it correctly.

Top tip: Once you chop or crush your garlic cloves, give them a chance to sit for 5 – 10 minutes exposed to the air before heating or adding anything acidic to them, such as lemon juice (i.e. for a salad dressing or marinade).

This gives a chance for the alliinase enzymes to work and activate the compounds in the garlic that make it a super food!

Health benefits of Garlic:

It lowers LDL cholesterol

It is antiviral and therefore boosts the immune system

It is anti-fungal

It is antibacterial and acts as a natural antibiotic

It helps to thin the blood which reduces the risk of blood clots, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes

It is an anti-inflammatory

It is recommended to try and eat 1 clove of RAW garlic per day, either chopped up and eaten alone, or blended in a green juice. You can also take garlic capsules.

Recipe for green beans with garlic dressing

Ingredients:

Green/French beans cooked and cooled

Enough olive oil to coat the amount of beans you have

2 cloves of garlic, crushed, per handful of beans

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Crush the garlic cloves and leave them for 5 minutes before combining with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Coat the cooled beans in the olive oil and garlic dressing.

Serve alongside any meat dish, pasta dish or quite frankly whatever you fancy. Perfect for picnics with things such as quiche, or as a side dish for a BBQ.